Narrative:

Before takeoff we had successfully completed the before takeoff checklist and took the runway. I added power and after the throttles came up; at around 60 KTS; we had an aural warning of 'no takeoff trim.' I rejected and rolled to a safe exit. The first officer notified ATC and we stopped on the taxiway. The EICAS showed no chevron and only amber dashes in the box. I advised the passengers all was ok and of what we had going on in the cockpit and that I would be in contact with the company. I called dispatch and advised them of the reject. They passed me over to maintenance control. Maintenance advised me to return to the gate. A local mechanic came out and I helped him preform the test for MEL 27-41-0 'pitch trim indication inop.' prior to the test we did a power down; the pitch indication was intermittent; ie flashing on and off. The aircraft passed the MEL test. Magically the indications stopped flashing and remained steady. My first officer and I discussed what we would do if we took the runway and got the indication failure again. Do we reject or do we disregard the aural warning and continue the takeoff with it going off? I called maintenance control and asked if they had a way to inhibit the aural warning for 'no trim'; the answer was no. I spoke to two managers who advised to continue the takeoff with the aural warning going off; as it should stop at 80 KTS or 400 AGL. If an 'amber' EICAS message for trim failure is annunciated; then reject. The MEL gives no guidance on procedure or what indications to expect. Second takeoff was normal. The MEL should advise the crews about what should and should not be on the EICAS; for any MEL; not just this one. Also; it should advise how to perform 'non standard' procedures and we should train for this is in the simulator.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An EMB175 rejected a takeoff for a NO TAKEOFF TRIM EICAS warning. Following a MEL directed reset; the system operated normally. The crew and management discussed ignoring the warning as a nuisance if it occurred on the next takeoff.

Narrative: Before takeoff we had successfully completed the before takeoff checklist and took the runway. I added power and after the throttles came up; at around 60 KTS; we had an aural warning of 'NO TAKEOFF TRIM.' I rejected and rolled to a safe exit. The First Officer notified ATC and we stopped on the taxiway. The EICAS showed NO chevron and only Amber dashes in the box. I advised the passengers all was OK and of what we had going on in the cockpit and that I would be in contact with the Company. I called Dispatch and advised them of the reject. They passed me over to Maintenance Control. Maintenance advised me to return to the gate. A local Mechanic came out and I helped him preform the test for MEL 27-41-0 'Pitch trim indication inop.' Prior to the test we did a power down; the pitch indication was intermittent; ie flashing on and off. The aircraft passed the MEL test. Magically the indications stopped flashing and remained steady. My First Officer and I discussed what we would do if we took the runway and got the indication failure again. Do we reject or do we disregard the aural warning and continue the takeoff with it going off? I called Maintenance Control and asked if they had a way to inhibit the aural warning for 'NO trim'; the answer was NO. I spoke to two managers who advised to continue the takeoff with the aural warning going off; as it should stop at 80 KTS or 400 AGL. If an 'Amber' EICAS message for trim failure is annunciated; then reject. The MEL gives NO guidance on procedure or what indications to expect. Second takeoff was normal. The MEL should advise the crews about what should and should NOT be on the EICAS; for any MEL; not just this one. Also; it should advise how to perform 'NON standard' procedures and we should train for this is in the simulator.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.